Overview

• Effective October 1, the United States will impose a 100 percent tariff on branded or patented medicine imports, with exemptions for companies that have begun or start building production in the U.S.
• New surcharges also target goods from October 1, including 50 percent on kitchen and bathroom cabinets, 30 percent on upholstered furniture, and 25 percent on heavy trucks.
• A summer U.S.–EU arrangement established a 15 percent base tariff for most EU exports, and Washington has now retroactively cut duties on EU car imports to 15 percent effective August 1.
• The European Commission asserts the 15 percent ceiling covers pharmaceuticals, contending EU drug exports are shielded from higher U.S. tariffs under the August declaration.
• Germany’s pharma industry is highly exposed with roughly €27 billion in 2024 U.S.-bound exports, while a separate Section 232 review of medical gear and ongoing court fights over other tariffs keep the legal outlook unsettled.